Steam-trap



J. REDMOND- smm TRAP. APPLICATION FILED MAYI4| 1919.

1,330,612. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- ATTORN EY J. REDMOND.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14 I919.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY J.'REDMOND.

STEAM TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14. I919.

1,330,61 2. Patented Feb. 10,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- l mmlpii M IIIIIIIIIIIIQ fliogYgglNvENToR WQ ATTORNEY,

JOHN REDMOND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

STEAM-TRAP.

rea ers.

Specification'of Letters Eatent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed May 1%, 1819. Serial No. 297,077.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN REDMOND, a citizen of'the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Steam-Traps, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention. relates to improvements in steam traps and condensers, and the object of my invention is to produce a simple, efficient, and reliable structure of this kind which will collect the steam which returns from circulation, condense the same, and then return the hot water to the boiler either by gravity flow, or by an ejector, pump, or the like. My invention is intended to produce a structure of this character in which a tilting tank or cylinder is used, and in which valves are automatically operated by the tilting of the tank and by reason of the rise and fall of water therein, so as to positively control the collection and return of the water of condensation, and so that the various parts will Work dependably and not be liable to get out of order. In general my invention is intended to produce a simpler, more positive and better structure of the character referred to than has been used heretofore, and this will be more clearly understood from the description which fol lows.

Reference is to be had to one of'the drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the steam trap embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation taken from the opposite side to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end view of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the tank or cylinder.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6-6.

of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail section of the valve mechanism controlling the pressure steam as it flows from the boiler to the tank or to an injector, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of one of the valves.

In carrying out my invention I employ a tank 10 which is preferably elongated and of cylindrical shape because of convenience in manufacture, and this is pivoted near the. center so as to tilt first one way and then the other, the tilting tank being pivoted on suitable frames 11 which are supported on a convenient bed 12, and the pipes 13 and 14 which serve as the inlet for the steam of circulation and the back flow to the boiler respectively, can serve as pivots for the tank. The steam which has been circulated and which is to be collected, condensed, and returned to the boiler, passes to the tank through the inlet pipe 13, and thence through a suitable connection and pipe 16 to a valve chamber 17 on the top ofthe tank. This chamber is placed near the center of the tank so as to come directly opposite the transverse partition 18 which divides the tank into two compartments. The object of the valve chamber 17 and the valve mechanism therein is to direct the flow of return steam and water first to one end of the tank and then to the other, and I have shown the valve mechanism by way of example merely, and it will be understood that any other suitable valve mechanism can be substituted for that shown. As shown the chamber 17 has within it sleeves 19 in which operate the piston valves 20 and 20 these being spaced apart and connected by a piston rod 21 so that they will work in unison, and the piston rod is operated by a crank 22 connecting with a shaft 23 which extends horizontally outward through the casing and is provided with a crank arm 24: having a roller or offset 25 working in the slot 26 of the standard or arm 28 which is fast on the frame 11. The piston valves 20 and 20 slide over ports 29 and 29 which connect with the two end portions of the tank. Thus when the tank is tilted in one direction and one end is therefore full of water, the crank arm 25 and crank 22 will be moved so as to close the port 29 and open the port 29 and the water and steam will therefore begin to flow into the empty and higher chamber of the tank, and obviously when that end is filled and the first end emptied, the reverse action will take place.

The outlet of water from the tank to the boiler is controlled in substantially the same way as the inlet of steam and w.- ter, and to this end a valve chamber 30 is arranged on the under side of the tank opposite the partition 18. and this has sleeves 31 with ports 32 and 32 opening to the tank. The piston valves 33 and 33 move in the sleeves opposite these ports. and the connecting piston rod connects with a crank 34 on the shaft which extends outward from the casing 30 and has crank arm 36 operating in the slot of the standard 38 on the base 12. Thus when the tank tilts the mechanism just re ferred to will slide the piston valves 83 and 33 and alternately open the ports 32 and 32 to permit the water to flow out from the tank to the boiler. To this end the chamber 30 connects by a pipe 39 and suitable connections 40 with the pipe 14; and its connecting pipe 15 already referred to. The tank is open to boiler pressure as hereinafter described, and if the tank is above the water level of the boiler, the water of con-- densation will flow back by gravity, or the pipe 15 may connect with a pump injector or the like and be pumped to the tank if it is necessary or desirable.

The following arrangement can be conveniently used for connecting with the boiler so as to admit steam pressure to the tank. The pipe 41 is preferably a T pipe and connects by the branch pipes 42 with the valve casing 43, and the pipe 4-1 can connect by a suitable piping with the steam chamber of the boiler. This connection should be of such a nature as will permit the pipe and its connections to tilt with the tank without straining the connections. The valve casing a3 connects with the end chambers of the tank through the branch pipes 4%, each connecting with a valve cas ing 45 which is shown in detail in Fig. 7. One end of each casing 45 can connect with a pipe 46, and this may lead to an injector or pump so that the latter can be operated by a part of the steam flowing from the boiler. The casing 45 has a suitable sea. :17 therein in which works a piston valve 4-8, this being vertically arranged, and the valve slides in a nipple 49 of the tank 10, to whih nipple the casing 45 is screwed or otherwise fastened. The valve rod or stem 50 extends downward through the tank and is provided with a bucket float 51, while the stem also is guided in a suitable guide 52 on the tank bottom.

As the end of the tank fills with water, the bucket float rises, raises the valve a8, and opens the inlet for steam to the tank 10 so as to subject the water therein to boiler pressure and cause the water to flow out freely to the boiler, while the excess steam flows on through the pipe 46 to the pump or injector as the case may be. In practice the inclination of the stem 50 is so slight that it does not interfere with the working of the valve 48, particularly if the float 51 is sufficiently heavy. Obviously if the tank is above the boiler water level and no injector or pump is used. the pipe connection 4E6 can be dispensed with. The valve casing ea rests upon a bracket 43 and is provided with a sliding piston having two parts 4:3" and 43 which are adapted to slide opposite and open and close the ends of the branch pipes as. The middle portion of the valve between the parts 43 and 43 is connected with an arm 43 which extends through the slot in the valve casing 43 and is secured to the bracket 43. It will thus be seen that this valve affords a quick and positive means of opening and closing the steam inlet, and that it works automatically by the tilting of the tank 10. As soon as the tank tilts as shown in Fig. 2, the valves 43 -43 will slide, thus instantly closing the steam inlet to the higher part of the tank and admitting it to the filled portion, thus submitting the filled portion to boiler pressure. It will thus be seen that the valves 43 f4:3 supplement the action of the valves 48 and act much quicker, so that there is no danger of live steam entering the empty portion of the tank. As above described the valve e3 4=3 is actuated by the tilting of the tank, and so if the valve L8 and its float were not used, a good deal of steam would rush into and through the chamber which is being emptied when the water got low, but before the tank tilted to its other position, if it were not for the valve 48. This acts before the valve 43 -4l3, and so closes the pressure steam inlet, and the valve 434c3 operates when the tank tilts and opens the steam inlet to the fuel chamber as the latter descends.

The two chambers of the tank can be provided with relief valves so that as the chambers fill with water the air can escape without undue pressure, and any suitable relief valve can be used for this purpose. I have shown a piston 53 working in a nipple 541 in the top of the tank, and one on each chamber, and the upper end of the valve stemis provided with a collar 55, and a spring 56 is arranged to normally lift the valve stem 54 which is provided with a valve 53 closing against a seat 53 A float 57 is attached to the stem 54- and is just heavy enough to overcome the tension of the spring 56. As the chamber becomes filled with water the float rises and closes the valve 55 so as to prevent the water from flowing out. As stated any suitable valve can be substituted for the one shown. These relief valves are only used when there is a light steam prev sure, as in heating plants for apartment houses and the like, to permit the escape of air, and the pressure is so light that no harm is done if a little steam escapes; but where heavier pressures are bad the relief valves are dispensed with.

The apparatus may be rather heavy, and to prevent any undue shock as the tank tilts, dash-pots 58 are preferably arranged beneath the end portions of the tank so that the end which is being filled will descend quietly and without undue jar.

At the end portions of the tank I arrange illustrated, each end of the tank has a bracket 59 carrying a roller 60 which is adapted to engage the head 61 of a latch 62 which is pivoted as shown at 63 on a bracket attached to the bed 12 or to other suit able support, and the latch is pressed by the spring 64- into engagement with the roller 60. The catch 61 is inclined so that the roller will readily engage or disengage it, and the pressure of the spring 64 is sufficient to hold the adjacent end of the tank down until the opposite end becomes sufficiently full, when the weight will overcome the tension of the spring 64 causing the catch to let go, and the opposite end of the tank will then descend and be held by its catch.

Fig. 5 shows the tank with its valves in neutral position. When one end is tilted, we will say, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the valves 19 will be moved so that the port 29 on the depressed or full end of the tank will be closed, but the other port will be opened so as to permit the incoming steam and water to pass through the pipes 13, 16, and chamber 17, and port 29 to the upper end of the tank. lVleanwhile the tipping of the tank will have moved the valves 33 and 33 so that the port 32 will be opened while the port 32 will be closed and the water at condensation will pass out through the port 32 and chamber 30 and through the pipes 39,1 1 and 15 to the boiler. The float 51 will meanwhile have opened the valve 49 so as to admit pressure steam to the upper part of the full chamber, and the water will therefore pass freely back to the boiler either by gravity or by means of a pump or injector as already described. The higher end of the tank will not be open to steam pressure as the bucket 51 will have descended and closed the valve 48, and the piston valve 43* or 43 will have closed oil the steam inlet to the higher chamber.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the apparatus is practical and simple and that there is nothing about it to get out of order. Furthermore, that it will tilt automatically as the alternate ends be come full, and that the hot water of condensation will flow freely back to the boiler.

It will be understood that the apparatus described would work in the same way if the inlet pipe 13 were connected to a source of water supply instead of to the return pipe of a circulation system, so that the apparatus would in this case work as a boiler feeding apparatus.

I claim 1. A steam trap comprising a tilting twochambered tank having an inlet for steam and water and a water outlet, valve mechanism controlling the inlet and outlet of the tank and constructed to alternately open and close the chambers to the inlet and outlet, steam pressure pipes connected to both chambers, a valve controlling the steam inlet to each chamber, and a float in each chamber actuating said valve so as to open the valve as its chamber becomes full.

2. The combination with the tilting tank having chambers on opposite sides of its pivot and having suitable valve controlled inlet andoutlet for each chamber, of a valve casing adapted to connect with a sourceof steam supply and with a pump or the like, a valve operating in said casing to open the casing to the chamber and pump, and a float in the chamber connected with the valve to open the latter as the chamber becomes full.

3. The combination with the tilting tank having opposite chambers, and means for controlling the inflow of water and steam of condensation and the outflow of water from the tank, of a pressure steam connection with the two chambers of the tank, a valve casing forming a part of the pressure steam connection, branch pipes leading from the valve to the opposite chambers of the tank, a valve in the casing operated by the tilting of the tank and adapted to alternately close said branch pipes, and a second set of float-controlled valves, one in each chamber, also acting to open and close the pressure steam inlet.

4. A steam trap comprising a tilting tank having separated chambers on opposite sides of its pivot, a valve mechanism controlling the inlet to the tank and adapted to direct the inflow alternately to opposite chambers of the tank, a valve mechanism controlling the outlet from said chambers and operating to close the chamber that is being filled and open the opposite chamber, means for automatically operating both Valve mechanisms by the tilting of the tank, valve mechanisms controlling the boiler pressure supply to the tank chambers and operated by the tilting of the tank, a supplemental valve in the steam pressure pipe for each chamber, and means actuated by the change of the water level inthe tank for automatically operating the supplemental steam pressure valves.

" tilting of the tank for operating said valves,

steam pressure pipes connected to both chambers, a valve controlling the steam inlet to each chamber and operated by the tilting of the tank, a second valve in each chamber connected with the steam inlet thereof, and a float in the chamber actuating said valve so as to open the valve as its chamber be comes full.

6. An apparatus or" the kind described comprising a tilting tank divided centrally into two chambers, an inlet pipe serving as one pivot of the tank, an outlet pipe serving as the second pivot of the tank, slide valve on the upper part of the tank controlling the inlet to the two chambers, a crank arm operatively connected to the valve and to stationary support whereby the tilting of the tank operates the valve, a slide valve on the lower part of the tank controlling the outlet to the tank chambers, a crank arm operatively connected with said outlet valv and with a stationary support whereby the tilting of the tank operates the valve, a steam pressure pipe adapted to connect with the two tanks, valve mechanism controlling said pressure supply pipe and adapted to deliver pressure alternately to the tank chambers, and means operated by the tilting of the tank for controlling said steam supply valve.

JOHN REDMOND.

Witnesses WVARREN B. Huronmsozv, M. G. ODONNELL. 

